Heybridge 0 Ricay 1 Abandoned at HT No Floodlights

[jl]

"Bring on Billapikey" declares the Heybridge message board.

 

Oh the irony of it! I think today confirmed the collapse of a once respected local non league outfit into little more than a pub team.

 

Playing arguably their biggest home game of the season, with a chance of actually attracting some new support all they did was get 10 men behind the ball as often as possible with presumably the hope of nicking one from a set piece.

 

In the "light" of a couple of failures recently the Ryman League has issued reminders to clubs in the Ryman Bulletin to ensure that their lights are working correctly - so this failure is inexcusable. Let's hope they show some teeth for once and dish out a hefty fine.

 

A very poor day for Heybridge Swifts.

[Simon BTFC]

Everything about Heybridge is starting to look like a club preparing for a "Swift" descent through the divisions.

 

Results elsewhere didn't help them with Ramsgate and Harlow both winning.

 

For us, however, results went pretty well with C*nv*y, AFC Hornchurch and Maidstone all losing. We have now played fewer games than all the teams around us, so we have to be a little bit careful to avoid fixture pile-up. I suggest we wait to play Swifts in the summer when the light should hold out. Or we take torches...

[Brightside Bloke]

Us Fans should boycott the replay and not put more money into the pockets of the swifts.

[Localfan]

Originally Posted By: Brightside Bloke

Us Fans should boycott the replay and not put more money into the pockets of the swifts.

Then you would deprive your team of your support BB...

TBF they seem apologetic on the Ryman MB

[GazzaBTFC]

Originally Posted By: Brightside Bloke

Us Fans should boycott the replay and not put more money into the pockets of the swifts.

It doesn't happen often but I agree with Loco Fan.

The man on the tannoy did ask the supporters to keep their tickets...

[Brightside Bloke]

Quote:

Us Fans should boycott the replay and not put more money into the pockets of the swifts.

The lights went out approx 15 mins into the game. I did hear one guy mention on my way towards our end "We told them to spend some money on the lights" That guy was wearing a swifts hat.

We all asked for the lights during the first half, Did you not hear us?

No mention was made about the lights on half time but was mentioned once everyone started to spend their money over the bar and food stall,

A delay of half an hour after the usual half time period meant even more money spent in the bar and food stall.

Only one gate issued ticket stubs? so if they do allow people to re use the tickets then some people will have to pay again because they will not have been given a ticket stub. should that be the case then someone can have my ticket because i would not want to go there for a rematch based on them scrounging more money from the Blues fan's,

For your info Local Fan I'm sure Billericay Town FC know how much i support them and i would not ever consider depriving them of an ounce of support,

But for the reasons above i would not want to spend any of my cash on a tin pot clubs like heybridge.

Quote:

It doesn't happen often but I agree with Loco Fan.

Nice to see you have made up with LF Gazza must be the season of goodwill.... I'll get my hat.

[Simon BTFC]

As BB says the announcements were late - and almost inaudible to me (standing by the tunnel). If nothing else, the volume on the PA at New Lodge is such that in the event of a problem, fans in Oz would be able to hear

 

I suspect that Heybridge will offer free admission to ticket holders to the rearranged game. They are not obliged by competition rules to do anything as the game reached half time, however as the problem clearly arose well before then (possibly before the game started, given that the floodlights never came fully on as far as I could see) it would be in their best interest to avoid further bad publicity.

[GazzaBTFC]

Agreement and "making up" as you so put it, are two different matters entirely and I was not aware that I had any reason to "make up" with LF...seeing that we greeted each other quite amicably last time he came down to New Lodge.

 

I'm sure there are those down at the club are fully aware of your level of support but wouldn't it be better served getting behind the players on the evening of the replay and witnessing the performance and a possible victory...(I am trying desperately not to "murray" the result here)? I thought that was what supporters do...make as many games as they can to get behind their team and witness the cut and thrust of a game of football and then celebrate the victory (if one is lucky enough to be supporting the winning side)?

 

It was just a small point but I fully understand that you have a choice not to make the re arranged fixture...

 

As with the situation, it was more than annoying because as JL pointed out, the League had made it quite clear in various bulletins that clubs should make sure that all steps are taken to avoid floodlight faliure. Even though I had to stand very quiet and listen to the PA, I did hear that we were to "keep our tickets and the club will announce the situation regarding admission at the time of the re arranged fixture". I believe an apology was also made., Not a lot ealse can be added to that IMO.

 

 

[Adam.S]

We gave a good performance in the first half, Bricknell and Flack looked very sharp again. From the first half there were definately a lot of positives to gain.

 

With the floodlight issue, it was very annoying. I think it was more annoying that we was also winning, if we had been drawing or even losing, then I probably wouldn't have been as annoyed.

 

Unfortunately these things cannot be helped, eventhough the PA system wasn't loud, they did apologise, and like gazza said, they can't do much more then that. And if they decide to give us free entrance with our tickets at the re-arranged game, then that will be a bonus as they don't need to anything.

 

I heard the lights came back on about an hour later.

[finisterre]

Apparently the E.On engineer changed the fuse and fixed the lights at 16:30. The game had been announced abandoned over the tannoy at 16:20.

[Localfan]

"For your info Local Fan I'm sure Billericay Town FC know how much i support them and i would not ever consider depriving them of an ounce of support,"

 

Thats not what I said BB. I never doubted your support at anytime, but not going would do just that on the night. All blues fans need to get behind the team. We had this discussion after Grays had the same problem. In the end everyone went back........

 

"Nice to see you have made up with LF Gazza must be the season of goodwill."

 

Never had a problem with Gary BB, always make a point of saying hello and a chat when I get over to New lodge. People who give up immense amount of time for their clubs deserve respect...Okay banter/opinions differ.......

 

[Pooch]

The official match report is now up on the BTFC website - 2nd article on the Home page.

[Brightside Bloke]

I like your last picture Pooch. Made me giggle.